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The Rockshelves at Karloo Pools +
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On the ridge between Karloo Pools and Uloola Falls +
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The Hacking River from Robertson's Roundabout +
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The walking bridge across the Hacking River +
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The Royal National Park Visitor Centre +
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Cross sectional view of the Heathcote to Audley bushwalking track  Analysis and summary of the altitude variation on the Heathcote to Audley bushwalking track  Overview of this walks Grading - Based on the AS 2156.1 - 2001
These details are new. This new feature still requires more testing and refining. Please use the 'Walker Feedback' for report specific issues. Please e-mail Matt if you have any general comments. Hope you find it helpful.
Under this standard, a walk is graded based on the most difficult section of the walk.
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Length |
10km |
| Time |
4 hrs 15 mins |
| . |
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Grade 4/6
Track: Hard |
AS 2156.1 |
Gradient |
Very steep (4/6) |
| Quality of track |
Formed track, with some branches and other obstacles (3/6) |
| Signs |
Directional signs along the way (3/6) |
| Experience Required |
Some bushwalking experience recommended (3/6) |
| Weather |
Weather generally has little impact on safety (1/6) |
| Infrastructure |
Limited facilities, not all cliffs are fenced (3/6) |
*This summary of grading information is new and still in testing Some more detail of this walks Grading
Here is a bit more details explaining the grading looking at sections of the walk. Gradient
7km of this walk has short steep hills and another 2.4km has gentle hills with occasional steps. Whilst another 280m is flat with no steps and the remaining 140m is very steep.
Quality of track
9km of this walk follows a formed track, with some branches and other obstacles and another 1.1km follows a clear and well formed track or trail. The remaining (350m) follows a smooth and hardened path.
Signs
Around 7km of this walk has directional signs at most intersection, whilst the remaining 2.7km is clearly signposted.
Experience Required
Around 5km of this walk requires no previous bushwalking experience, whilst the remaining 4.8km requires some bushwalking experience.
Weather
This whole walk, 10km is not usually affected by severe weather events (that would unexpectedly impact safety and navigation).
Infrastructure
Around 10km of this walk has limited facilities (such as not all cliffs fenced), whilst the remaining 420m is close to useful facilities (such as fenced cliffs and seats).
(0 km)
Heathcote Railway Station
to
Int of Wilson Parade and Karloo Track
Track: Moderate - road |
Length = 200 m |
Time = 3 mins |
| Climb = 1 m |
Descent = -2 m |
|
From Heathcote Station, this walk heads south-east along Wilson Parade following the railway tracks. Shortly after passing the emergency services centre, the track comes to an intersection with a bush track signposted as the 'Karloo Track'.
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(0.2 km)
Int of Karloo Track and Wilson Pde
to
Karloo Pools
Track: Moderate - bushtrack |
Length = 2.58 km |
Time = 1 hr 6 mins |
| Climb = 87 m |
Descent = -222 m |
Turn left : From the intersection of Wilson Pde and the bush track at the large sign saying 'Karloo Track', this walk heads east away from the road. Shortly after, this turns to the north and goes behind the Rural FIrefighting Station (Emergency Services Centre), then the track turns back to the east and continues along the bush track. Gradually this turns to the south and goes slightly downhill until reaching Heathcote Brook. Just after crossing the brook, the track comes to an intersection with another bush track.
Veer left: From the intersection, this walk heads east. The track gradually rises onto the ridgeline and there are some reasonably good views over the surrounding valley. The track continues east in this manner then begins to gradually drop down off the ridge along the slightly rougher bush track until reaching Karloo Pools. This would be a good spot to take a break and get your toes wet.
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(2.78 km)
Karloo Pools
to
Uloola Falls Camp
Track: Moderate - bushtrack |
Length = 2.26 km |
Time = 45 mins |
| Climb = 125 m |
Descent = -47 m |
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Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk crosses Kangaroo Creek at Karloo Pools, then follows the 'Waterfall via Uloola Falls' arrow up the hill between the rocks and along the rocky bush track. The track climbs up the long hill for a while, then it flattens out for a short while passing a sign pointing back to 'Heathcote', before continuing up another long rocky hill to the top of the ridge. From the top of the hill, the track continues through the trees which quickly open out into scrub. The walk follows the yellow painted markers across all the rock surfaces, until it gradually starts to descend down the end of the ridge, steadily winding down until coming to a large flat clearing. Here, the walk turns right and crosses the Uloola Brook, then continues along the bush track heading away from the brook for a short while, passing the sign with arrows to 'Waterfall' and 'Heathcote' before coming to the 'Uloola Falls Bush Campground'.
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(5.04 km)
Uloola Falls Camp
to
Int of Uloola Track and Robertson Roundabout
Track: Moderate - bushtrack |
Length = 3.99 km |
Time = 1 hr 16 mins |
| Climb = 105 m |
Descent = -107 m |
Veer left: From the campsite, this walk follows the 'Audley' signpost along the bush track. This gradually climbs up a long rocky hill, passing the occasional painted yellow directional marker. At the top of the ridge, the track flattens out and continues through the scrub, frequently crossing scattered rock surfaces with occasional painted markers. The track continues in this manner for a long while, until reaching an intersection with a bush track on the right, and a sign pointing back to 'Uloola Falls'.
Continue straight: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Audley' arrow along the bush track. The walk winds among the banksia and gum trees as it follows the defined rocky bush track along the ridge for a long while, before coming to the intersection, with multiple signposts including 'Audley' and 'Robertsons Roundabout'.
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(9.03 km)
Int of Uloola Track and Robertson Roundabout
to
Int of Engadine, Audley and Uloola Tracks
Track: Moderate - bushtrack |
Length = 556 m |
Time = 18 mins |
| Climb = 1 m |
Descent = -92 m |
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Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the 'Audley 0.5km' on the 'Robertsons Roundabout' signpost, heading along the bush track. The track steps up onto the short rock shelf and continues up the short hill to the top of the ridge and down the other side, winding steadily down the long rocky hill. The walk then zigzags down a few sets of rock steps before coming down to the signposted intersection of the 'Robertson Roundabout' track.
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(9.59 km)
Int of Engadine, Audley and Uloola Tracks
to
Currawong Flats
Track: Hard - bushtrack |
Length = 137 m |
Time = 4 mins |
| Climb = 0 m |
Descent = -34 m |
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Turn right: From the intersection, this walk follows the bush track heading in the opposite direction to the Heathcote and Engadine arrows, winding down the hill via the rock steps that the track continues down to the banks of the Hacking River at Currawong Flats.
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(9.72 km)
Currawong Flats
to
Royal National Park Information Centre
Walk: Easy - road |
Length = 281 m |
Time = 5 mins |
| Climb = 8 m |
Descent = -2 m |
Turn right: From the end of the bush track, this walk heads through Currawong Flats, keeping the river on the left, until reaching the bridge. The track turns left and crosses the Hacking River on the bridge, to come to Lady Carrington Drive.
Turn left: From the bridge, this walk heads along the road, keeping the river to the left. Passing the park lands and picnic area, the road the meets Sir Bertram Stevens Drive and a short distance further comes to the Royal National Park Information Centre.
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(10 km)
Visitor Centre
to
Ironbark Flat Picnic Area
Optional sidetrip: Walk: Easy - footpath |
Length = 99 m |
Time = 2 mins |
| Climb = 0 m |
Descent = -7 m |
Turn sharp left: From the visitor centre, this walk passes between the centre and the toilet block, heading down the stairs and onto the large, grassed clearing of Ironbark Flats.
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Plan your trip to the start of the walk and back from the end of the walk
Public Transport links currently not working, sorry
Driving Directions |
| Map Car Shuffle
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To the start of the walk
Drive from:
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From the end of the walk
Drive to:
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Campsites in the park Bonnie Vale camping groundNorth Era camping groundUloola Falls camping groundNearest know Outdoor Stores near the start of this walk
| Store |
Address |
Phone |
Distance (straight line) |
| Engadine Disposal & Outdoor Centre Pty Ltd | 1042 Old Princes Hwy, Engadine | (02) 9520 3367 | 2.6 km | Paddy Pallin Adventure Equipment | 587 Kingsway, Miranda | (02) 9525 6829 | 10.6 km | Onrope | 11 Nelson Ave, Padstow | (02) 9709 6299 | 17 km | Boots Great Outdoors | 23 Koonya Cct, Caringbah | (02) 9542 8988 | 12.4 km | Jeffs Camping & Disposals | Lvl2/ 444 Hume Hwy, Yagoona | (02) 9708 5092 | 20.2 km |
A list of the nearest UHF CB repeaters I found to Heathcote to Audley.
Fire DangerThis walk passes Greater Sydney Region fire area which currently has a NONE rating and No Ban in place. (Downloaded 35 minutes ago) Please Note: Each park may have its own fire ban status, this rating is based on information from the RFS and BOM. Weather and ClimateWeather and Climate summary detailed weather and climate information here | A few showers. | | 11.7°C (feels like 8.0°) | | 20 km/h from the S (gusting 33) | | 90% humidity (as at 24/02:45am) |
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 Royal National Park Link to official closures and fire bans pageRegion: Sydney & Surrounds Park fees Camping Facilities I am not aware of any closures in this park at the moment. |
Hiking near Sydney 
NEW
1 km
not too much longer now :)